Non-Native Children ESL Methods

Non-native novices between the ages of 4-12 tend to learn through their natural faculties when they are having fun and enjoying the lesson at hand. Children are more receptive to stimuli that are integrated into their daily routine through relevant immersion. Furthermore, they may take longer to acquire a novel piece of information as younger English pupils constant tinkering to be able to grasp the new content and reinforce learning.

The majority of young children within this age group are in awe of props (both digital and tangible) – These must be harnessed to the teacher’s advantage or falter within the means of distraction. Teachers should utilize props, education technology, and TPRto be more relatable to the aspiring student while simultaneously increasing retention and effectiveness.

Teaching the English language to kids of this age is not an easy task and it should be taken with diligence, persistence, and respect. One must possess an open-minded mentality with them to guide them into distinctive fluency. English is considered one of the harder languages to learn in the world due to complex linguistical reasons that we will cover later. Likewise, some aspiring learners have trouble even finding a native language partner in their country to practice with. It is essential to start learning early on when neural plasticity is still developing in the brain before it becomes less malleable.

The bare minimum approach to teaching English to non-native children would be planting the seeds into their subconscious to be catered to once they are independent enough for self-study. This should be done with constant repetition, engaging materials and the linking of both hemispheres of the brain through creativity to consolidate into the long-term memory.